STONES BOLD
Brave John was always destined to come good under Pep says Roy Hodgson
JOHN STONES poses a significant obstacle for Crystal Palace today but Roy Hodgson is still chuffed to see the Man City star back to his best.
Pep Guardiola’s men have conceded only twice this season with silky Stones in the side as his remarkable revival at The Etihad continues.
Earlier this season, England ace looked on his way out due to poor form and a lack of first-team action.
But now he is a regular again for Guardiola’s red-hot troops
– and one who is unsurprised the by that second coming Palace boss Hodgson. After all, he first noted Stones’ potential seven years ago when he was England boss – and handed the defender his Three Lions debut. Ahead of today’s trip to City, the Eagles chief said: “I’m very pleased for John. I always believed in him and that he’d have a good career.
“We took him – and Jon Flanagan – as two extras to our England training camp in Miami in 2014 – before he’d even established himself at Everton. “I did see in is him the makings of a very good centre-back. He reads the game well, he’s a good athlete and good in the air.
“And, of course, he always had composure and ability on the ball which wasn’t so prevalent in the game 10 years ago as it is today.”
Ironically, Stones’ unique technical attributes also led to some hefty criticism, according to Hodgson.
The inevitable mistake, stemming from the player’s willingness to take risks, became magnified when lining up for club and country.
Hodgson (left) said: “In the last year or two, he’s suffered in particular from injuries. That held him back.
“Before that, because of his quality and he’s courageous and dared to play out from the back, a pass would be intercepted, which would lead to a goal and that got him vilified.
“But I see Pep’s stayed with him very much in that respect. He wants the quality John’s got. He wants that confidence. He wants him to step into midfield and find passes.
“I’m sure he forgives him if one or two go astray.
“If you don’t want to give away simple goals as a centre-back, just kick the ball as far up the field as possible when it comes to you!”
Palace have not lost on their last two outings at City but Hodgson knows the challenge he is set to come up against.
He added: “You need to have enormous powers of concentration and discipline to achieve that.”